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Local bikers get a glimpse of what it means to be Closer To The Edge

Hundreds of people turned out to see a film about the speed, excitement and danger of the Isle of Man’s TT races last week – in the name of motorbike safety.

Road Safety Grampian held the special screening of “Closer to the Edge” as part of a campaign targeting bikers at the Belmont Picturehouse in Aberdeen.

The film documents the journey of entrants to the world-famous races, which take place each year on a dangerous and thrilling course.

The event marked the end of this year’s Operation Zenith motorcycle safety campaign and gave bikers the chance to speak to a range of experts and learn more about ways to increase their safety on the road.

Operation Zenith has been running for the last two years and is a partnership between local authorities, retailers and emergency services, focusing on a “four E's strategy” of Engineering, Encouragement, Education and Enforcement.

Casualty levels involving motorcycles have fallen over the course of the campaign so far and everyone is keen to see the downward trend continue.

Last year saw an overall 22% reduction, and this year’s campaign is on track to reduce this further.

Inspector Jim Wood explained the thinking behind screening the film: “If we had decided to play it along the traditional lines of delivering a road safety message within an established format, we would have missed an opportunity to speak to the very people we are trying to communicate with.

“So, just as we have tried to do over the last two years, we decided to do something different in the way we try to get people to think, and in the way we bring our message to our target audience.”

For every mile a motorcyclist travels they are 50 times more likely to be involved in a serious or fatal road traffic collision.

In the north-east, out of a vehicle population of over 330,000, there are only 11,000 bikes. And for every four people killed on our roads in the last five years, one of those four has been a biker.

This means bikers are more vulnerable than any other road user. Even the child pedestrian, who traditionally gets the highest road safety profile of all, statistically has less likelihood of being seriously injured or killed.

In the six years since 2005, four children have unfortunately been killed in pedestrian collisions in the north-east – during the same period 42 bikers lost their lives.

These startling figures were the catalyst for Operation Zenith, with all the partners feeling strongly that something positive had to be done to reduce this.

Local biker, Paul Finch, said: “I would be very worried about anyone who watched the film last night and went away thinking only about the thrill of riding at 200mph.

“It was good because it recognised that there was and is a real fascination and thrill about those who do this, but it was extremely effectively balanced with the risks and consequences of doing so, and I think this was the lingering impression.

“It was great entertainment, jaw dropping, funny and really well executed. The organisers couldn't have got a better film.”

Chairman of Aberdeenshire Council’s Infrastructure Services Committee, Peter Argyle, said: “Our message throughout the operation has been that we want people to come and enjoy the roads we have, to enjoy their biking, but to do so in away that they are safe, and that they ride defensively and responsibly to reduce the chance of them becoming a statistic.

“By taking a moment to think before you turn the key, you may not only reduce the chance of being involved in a collision, but may also reduce the impact that a fatal or serious collision can have on the rural communities in the north east who can sometimes feel that the road outside their door has become a bit like the TT.”

One of the messages for those at the film screening was that improved riding standards and skills are proven to help to reduce casualties.

Further training is something actively promoted and supported by Operation Zenith, whether it is Bikesafe, Enhanced Rider or advanced riding skills through IAM, RoSPA or any of the local providers.

Operation Zenith aims to educate motorcyclists by actively targeting behaviours and related offences which are linked to road traffic casualties, and earlier this year was recognised at the Scottish Transport Awards in the category of Best Transport Team/Partnership of the Year.

Tough-talking radio adverts, targeted enforcement, ‘training courses and new motorcycle signs are just a few of the measures used to carry the campaign’s safe riding message.

More information is available here: www.grampian.police.uk/operationzenith

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